Huduma centres will reduce graft, says secretariat boss

Kenya: The Huduma Centres established across the country will reduce corruption in the provision of government services. Head of Huduma secretariat Dennis Mutuku said yesterday that Huduma Kenya Centres are tailored to stamp out corruption characterised by endless queues, adding that they will also save valuable time during service delivery.

This is happening at a time when the Government is fighting corruption. “Kenya ranks at number four among countries with the highest cases of bribery in the world, according to Transparency International,” said Mutuku. “The survey recently done in Berlin said seven out of 10 Kenyans interviewed by TI-Kenya have given a bribe in the last 12 months, against a worldwide average of 27 per cent.”

The Huduma Kenya initiative by Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru uses Integrated Service Delivery technology to help people access a range of self-service counters linked to Government databases. “When fully operational, the one-stop shops will be followed by mobile phone ‘m-Huduma’ platform for M-government services. These will enable Kenyans to use mobile phones for easy payment for Government services,” he noted.

The centres offer 41 services with new ones being issuance of birth certificates, certificates of good conduct, Kasneb services, clearance certificates, credit dispute resolution reports and passports. Mr Mutuku said more Huduma Centres will be established Kirinyaga, Marsabit, Murang'a, Samburu, Nandi, Busia, Kilifi, Homa Bay and Migori in the next quarter. Others will be set up in Nyandarua, Tharaka-Nithi, Makueni, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Baringo, Kericho, Laikipia, Nyamira and Trans nzoia.